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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Graduate Program

Description

The University of Iowa Hospital Dentistry Institute offers a four-year, fully accredited residency training program in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Upon completion of study, the resident is eligible for examination leading to certification by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Optional degrees in addition to the oral and maxillofacial surgery certificate are offered by special arrangement including MD and PhD, and MS.

The goal of this residency is to provide the highest level of training in the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, and to insure development of skilled surgeons capable of providing continuing, comprehensive care. The program boasts a strong academic flavor with abundant opportunities for research.

Three primary teaching facilities are used to provide educational and patient care experiences:

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

University of Iowa College of Dentistry

Veterans Affairs Medical Center

All three facilities are in close physical proximity and are undeniably among the very best and well-equipped in the country. To assure training and exposure in the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, outside rotations are provided at the expense of the department. Rotations are further outlined under curriculum.

Faculty, staff and facilities

Five full-time and 2 part-time faculty members cover UI Hospitals and Clinics and the UI College of Dentistry. Other adjunct faculty participate in undergraduate and graduate education. The faculty is diverse, offering training and experience from multiple locations throughout the country. The oral and maxillofacial surgery program is supplemented by a strong, surgically oriented orthodontic program at the UI College of Dentistry. A prosthodontist enhances training at UI Hospitals and Clinics, and all disciplines participate in a comprehensive cleft lip and palate team.

The UI College of Dentistry offers interdisciplinary relationships with all graduate and undergraduate departments, providing considerable experience in dentoalveolar surgery, sedations, outpatient general anesthetics, and implants. Staff members include a strong compliment of full-time registered nurses, dental assistants, and clerical support. The College of Dentistry offers a state-of-the art audiovisual and graphics department, frequently utilized for case documentation and for presentations given locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Iowa Institute of Oral Health is an integral part of the College of Dentistry offering complete research facilities and equipment, animal operatories, and associated faculty, staff and research assistance; such assistance includes a full-time statistician.

The Hospital Dentistry Institute at UI Hospitals and Clinics opened a new, state-of-the-art facility in May 2001 featuring clinical areas for:

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Prosthodontics

General Dentistry

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department provides each resident with a work station within the resident's room. Conferences are held in a large, modern conference room complete with audiovisual connection to the main operating suites. The operating suites at UI Hospitals and Clinics are large, modern, and rival any throughout the country, private or otherwise.

Evaluation and assessment

It is our philosophy to provide close and careful supervision in a graded fashion to all residents. Faculty input is ever present in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Upper-level residents also provide supervision in a structured setting allowing them to increase their own clinical, surgical, and teaching skills. Residents actively participate in all phases of patient care, ensuring continuity of training from the presurgical phase to the postoperative phase of treatment.

The process of evaluation includes a semiannual evaluation with feedback from faculty, off-service rotations, and staff. Such evaluations occur formally with the graduate program director emphasizing strengths, weaknesses, and guidelines to promote the resident's professional development. Yearly in-service training exams and mock board examinations further identify strong and weak areas and ensure competency.

Library services

The residents have ready access to a number of fine medical and dental libraries. The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery maintains an up-to-date compilation of textbooks and journals directly related to the specialty.

The Hardin Library for the Health Sciences has more than 220,000 bound volumes and 3,500 serials and journals. Multiple journals are now available on-line through Hardin Library.

Resident life-style

Residency is a time for both personal and career development. A number of mechanisms are in place to assist in the transition from dental school, GPR, or other endeavor to oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at UI Hospitals and Clinics.

Iowa City offers a unique combination of excellent quality of life, cultural events, and Big Ten athletics. Quality of available housing is good, and the school systems are excellent. Appropriate stipends allow a decent standard of living and are supplemented by excellent medical, dental and other benefits; such benefits extend to the entire family. Social activities for residents, faculty, and staff are held throughout the year.

Research

All residents are expected to undertake a significant research project leading to a national presentation. An optional degree can be arranged to include a MS or PhD. Faculty mentors are readily available to assist and direct research projects as needed.

Departmental funds are available to ensure project viability. Research projects span the entire scope from clinical investigations to animal and basic science endeavors.